Kwita Izina: 6 facts you need to know about the gorilla naming

Gayane Margaryan August 31, 2017

About the Author

Gayane Margaryan is African Wildlife Foundation's former Director of Marketing & Creative. Gayane is passionate about communicating the message of conservation through new tools and technologies and converting audiences into wildlife advocates. She is a graduate of the University of Florida,… More

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At the base of Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park, infant mountain gorillas were celebrated during the Kwita Izina naming ceremony.

Here’s what you need to know about the ceremony and the iconic mountain gorilla:

  • Kwita Izina is inspired by the ancient Rwandan tradition of naming a baby soon after its birth.During this ceremony, infant mountain gorillas that were born in Rwanda during the previous year receive their names.
  • At this year’s ceremony 19 infant mountain gorillas will be named, as well as one newly formed family.
  • About 239 mountain gorillas have been named over the course of the Kwita Izina ceremonies.
  • There are less than 1,000 mountain gorillas remaining in the world. This critically endangered species is found only in three countries, spanning four national parks.
  • Mountain gorillas generate significant tourism revenue, providing direct economic benefits to communities. In 2016, Rwanda generated about US $400 million in tourism revenue — the majority of which was from tourists visiting the country's mountain gorillas.
  • In 2008 former AWF CEO Patrick Bergin had the high honor of naming a gorilla. He called her Sacola.

 

> Find out more about the critically endangered mountain gorilla